JPH07239825A - State informing method and network system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically detect the state of an instrument and further to automatically execute suitable processing corresponding to the detected state by detecting the instrument itself and deciding whether the state requires the exchange of consumables or not. CONSTITUTION:A paper exhaustion detection sensor 7 always monitors the state of a main body 5 of a printer system and when the number of remaining print paper sheets gets less than a certain number, a paper exhausting signal and the number of remaining paper sheets are outputted to a printer controller 6. When the paper exhausting signal is received from the sensor 7, the printer controller 6 judges whether a printer 2 is printing at present or not and when it is not printing, the paper exhausting signal and the number of remaining paper sheets provided from the paper exhaustion detection sensor 7 are outputted to Ethernet. When the printer is printing, it is judged whether the remaining paper sheets are enough for completing that printing or not. When they are enough, printing is continued but when they are not enough, printing is stopped and the paper exhausting signal and the number of remaining paper sheets are outputted to the 'Ethernet (R).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and system for integrating and processing information about the status of devices in an OA integrated environment or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, regarding the state of each information processing device called OA device, information is collected by a person in charge of managing each device, and based on the information, each device is kept in the best state. It was in the form of a person in charge of equipment management taking appropriate measures. That is, even if a device is in a state of failure or lack of consumables, in order for the person in charge of managing it to obtain the information, at least one communication with the device or a device displaying the state of the device is required. Therefore, the burden on the management staff was large in proportion to the total number of devices.

[0003]

In order to manage a plurality of OA equipments by using the above-mentioned conventional techniques, the status information of the equipments is collected while the burden required to take appropriate measures is taken. The burden required to do it is too large. The reason for this is that information collection is not electronic. Conventionally, OA device management has required a process of visually obtaining device state information, selecting an appropriate measure, and executing the measure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and a state notification method for automatically detecting the state of a device and automatically executing an appropriate action for the detected state, and a network system using the same. The purpose is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, the status reporting method of the present invention has the following configuration.
That is, a method of reporting the status of a device on a network system, wherein a status detection step of detecting the status of the device itself, a display step of displaying the status, and whether the status requires replacement of consumables. A determination step of determining,
And a creation step of creating a document required for replacement of a consumable item based on the result of the determination in the determination step.

In order to achieve the above object, the network system of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, in a network system connecting a plurality of devices, a state detection unit that detects the state of the device itself, a display unit that displays the state, and whether the state requires replacement of consumables. And a creating means for creating a document required for exchanging a consumable item based on a result of the judgment made by the judging means.

As another mode, the following structure is provided. That is, in a network system that connects a plurality of devices, a printer having a status detection means for detecting the status of the equipment itself and a display means for displaying the status, and the status requiring replacement of consumables. And a computer having a determination unit that determines whether or not it is, and a creation unit that creates a document required to replace the consumable item based on the determination result by the determination unit.

As another aspect, it has the following configuration. That is, in a network system connecting a plurality of devices, a copying machine having a state detection unit for detecting the state of the device itself, and a determination unit for determining whether the state requires replacement of consumables, Facsimile having a creating means for creating a document required for exchanging consumables based on a result of the judgment by the judging means, and a transmitting means for transmitting the document created by the creating means to a predetermined destination on a public line. With.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a structure like that of the status notification device of the present invention. That is, a status reporting device for reporting the status of a device to an operator, and a status detection means for detecting the status, a display means for displaying the status, and a judgment as to whether the status requires replacement of consumables. And a creating means for creating a document required for exchanging a consumable item based on a result of the judgment made by the judging means.

[0009]

With the above configuration, each device has a function of detecting its own state and a function of automatically executing necessary processing for the state when the state is not perfect. This makes it possible to reduce the labor and cost required for managing each device.

[0010]

【Example】

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a network system according to a first embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a computer, 2 is a printer, 3 is an Ethernet cable connected to the computer, and 4 is an Ethernet cable connected to the printer. The computer 1 includes a CPU that controls the whole, a memory that stores programs executed by the CPU, a display that displays data, and a communication interface that controls connection to a network.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the structure of the printer 2 of FIG. 1 in more detail. In FIG. 2, 5 is a printer main body and 6 is a printer for controlling the printer main body 5.
The controller 7 is a sensor for detecting paper out of the printer. The printer controller 6 includes a CPU that controls the entire printer, a memory that stores programs executed by the CPU, and a communication interface that controls connection with a network.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of control when the printer controller 6 receives a paper out signal from the paper out sensor 7.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of processing when the computer 1 receives a signal from Ethernet.

These flow charts are realized by executing a predetermined program stored in the memory by the CPU included in each of the controller 6 and the computer 1.

The out-of-paper sensor 7 constantly monitors the state of the printer main body 5, and outputs an out-of-paper signal and the number of remaining papers to the printer controller 6 when the number of remaining papers in the printer falls below a certain number. Do. The printer controller 6 performs the processing as shown in FIG. 3 when a paper out signal is input.

First, when the paper-out signal is received from the sensor 7 (step S301), it is judged whether the printer 2 is currently printing (step S302). The out-of-paper signal and the remaining number of sheets are output to the Ethernet (step S3)
06). If printing is in progress, it is determined whether the remaining paper is enough to finish the printing (step S3).
03). If sufficient, printing is continued (step S30).
4) If it is not sufficient, printing is interrupted (step S
305), the paper out signal and the number of remaining paper sheets are output to the Ethernet (step S306).

By determining whether or not to continue printing when the paper runs out in this procedure, it is possible to output the paper out of the printer 2 while minimizing the damage to the printing process being executed.

Next, the processing flow of the computer 1 shown in FIG. 4 when the signal from the printer 2 is input from the Ethernet will be described.

When a signal is input from the printer 2 from the Ethernet (step S401), the computer 1 first interrupts the normal processing (step S40).
2). Next, the computer 1 judges whether the signal is a paper out signal (step S403), and if it is not a paper out signal, normal processing is restarted (step S4).
07). If it is a paper-out signal, the computer 1 displays the paper-out on the screen of the display (step S404), and determines whether to replenish the paper based on the number of remaining papers. If it is determined that the paper should be replenished, the computer 1 automatically creates a paper order slip and resumes normal processing. If it is determined that the replenishment should not be performed, the computer 1 restarts normal processing. The decision as to whether or not to replenish is based on the operator's input or the set number of remaining sheets.

According to the control of the present embodiment, when a printer runs out of paper, the person in charge can display the fact that the paper runs out on the display screen of the computer via the network without looking at it. By doing this, you can deal with running out of paper. In addition, the printer controller determines whether to suspend or continue printing depending on the number of remaining sheets, so that it is possible to deal with the problem before the sheets run out. In this way, the paperwork required for paper replenishment of the printer 1 can be made very simple.

Further, the error generated in the printer is not limited to the paper out, but in the case where it is necessary to inform the operator such as a jam, other trouble, replacement of consumables, etc.
It can be processed similarly.

The structure of the printer body 5 will now be described.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a laser beam printer (hereinafter abbreviated as LBP) which is the printer body 5, and this LBP can be printed on recording paper by inputting character pattern data and the like. it can.

In FIG. 8, 740 is an LBP main body, which forms an image on recording paper, which is a recording medium, based on the supplied character pattern and the like. Reference numeral 700 denotes an operation panel on which a switch for operation and an LED display are arranged.
A printer control unit 01 controls the entire LBP 740 and analyzes character pattern information and the like. The printer control unit 701 mainly converts character pattern information into a video signal and outputs it to the laser driver 702.

The laser driver 702 is a semiconductor laser 70.
Laser light 7 emitted from the semiconductor laser 703 according to the input video signal.
Switch 04 on / off. The laser beam 704 is swung in the left-right direction by the rotary polygon mirror 705 and scans the electrostatic drum 706. As a result, an electrostatic latent image having a character pattern is formed on the electrostatic drum 706. After the latent image is developed by the developing unit 707 around the electrostatic drum 706,
Transferred to recording paper. A cut sheet is used as the recording sheet, and the cut sheet recording sheet is stored in a sheet cassette 708 attached to the LBP 740, taken into the apparatus by a sheet feeding roller 709 and conveying rollers 710 and 711, and supplied to the electrostatic drum 706. To be done.

Although the laser beam printer has been described as an example of the structure of the printer device, the present invention is not limited to this, and the invention can be applied to an inkjet printer described below.

FIG. 9 shows an ink jet recording apparatus IJRA.
FIG. In the figure, the driving force transmission gears 5011 and 5009 are interlocked with the forward and reverse rotations of the drive motor 5013.
Spiral groove 5 of the lead screw 5005 rotating through
The carriage HC engaging with 004 has a pin (not shown) and is reciprocated in the directions of arrows a and b. The carriage HC has an ink jet cartridge IJC.
Is installed. A paper pressing plate 5002 presses the paper against the platen 5000 in the moving direction of the carriage. Reference numerals 5007 and 5008 denote photocouplers, which confirm the existence of the carriage lever 5006 in this area.
Home position detection means for switching the rotation direction of the motor 5013 and the like. Reference numeral 5016 is a member that supports a cap member 5022 that caps the front surface of the recording head. Reference numeral 5015 is a suction unit that sucks the inside of the cap, and performs suction recovery of the recording head through the in-cap opening 5023. 5017 is a cleaning blade, 50
Reference numeral 19 denotes a member that allows this blade to move in the front-rear direction, and these are supported by the main body support plate 5018.
Needless to say, a well-known cleaning blade can be applied to this example instead of this form. Also, 50
Reference numeral 12 is a lever for starting suction for suction recovery, which moves in accordance with the movement of the cam 5020 that engages with the carriage, and the driving force from the driving motor is movement-controlled by a known transmission means such as clutch switching. .

The capping, cleaning, and suction recovery are configured so that the desired processing can be performed at their corresponding positions by the action of the lead screw 5005 when the carriage comes to the area on the home position side. As long as the desired operation is performed at the timing, any of the above can be applied to this example.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment to which the present invention is highly applied. In the figure, 8 is a copying machine, 9 is a facsimile, 10 is an Ethernet cable, 11 is a copying machine Ethernet cable, and 12 is a facsimile Ethernet cable. The facsimile 9 is connected to the public telephone network cc and exchanges image data. When the remaining amount of toner in the copying machine 8 becomes low, the copying machine 8 and the facsimile 9 perform the processing shown in FIG. The copying machine 8 and the facsimile 9 both include a CPU for controlling the whole and a memory for storing programs and the like, like the printer and the computer described in the first embodiment.

The copying machine 8 has a function of judging its own state and outputting it. FIG. 6A is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the toner out of the copying machine 8 occurs.

When the remaining amount of toner becomes low, the copying machine 8 judges the state (step S601), and outputs a toner out signal to the Ethernet (step S602).

Further, the facsimile 9 has a function of automatically executing necessary processing. FIG. 6B is a flowchart of a processing procedure for running out of toner in a copying machine by facsimile.

When the toner out signal of the copying machine 8 is input from the Ethernet (step S611), a toner order slip is automatically created (step S612), the facsimile number of the order destination is searched (step S613), and the created order is placed. Send the slip to the facsimile of the ordering party (step S61)
4). This automatically orders toner. The facsimile number of the order recipient is registered in advance.

As described above, the status of the copying machine is notified to the facsimile and the necessary order processing is automatically performed from the facsimile via the public line, so that the order processing for the toner exhaustion can be automated and the office processing can be simplified. be able to.

[Embodiment 3] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system which is an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 13 and 14 are computers, 15 and 17 are printers, 16 and 18 are facsimile machines, 19 is a copying machine, 20 and 21 are computer Ethernet cables, 22 and 24 are printer Ethernet cables, and 23 and 25. Is an Ethernet cable for facsimile, 26 is an Ethernet cable for copier
Cable 27 is a backbone Ethernet cable.
In the case of the second embodiment, in the case of a facsimile failure, it is not possible to automatically order consumables, but in the case of this embodiment, since a plurality of facsimiles are connected in the same network, one facsimile fails. But you can place an order automatically with another fax machine. In this way, the more devices connected to the network, the greater the possibility that the processing will be complemented, and the less the burden on the person in charge of management. The same can be said for the printer and the computer of the first embodiment.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0037]

As described above, the status notification method and network system of the present invention can automatically detect the status of a device, and can automatically execute appropriate measures for the detected status. There is an effect that the labor of the person can be saved.

[0038]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a network system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of a printer device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process performed by the printer device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of processing performed by the computer device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a system block diagram of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of processing performed by the copying machine and facsimile system of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a system block diagram of the information processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a laser beam printer which is the configuration of the printer of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an inkjet printer which is a configuration of a printer according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Computer 2 Printer 3 Ethernet Cable 4 Printer Ethernet Cable 5 Printer Main Unit 6 Printer Controller 7 Paper Out Detection Sensor for Printer 8 Copier 9 Facsimile 10 Ethernet Cable 11 Copier Ethernet Cable 12 Facsimile Ethernet Cable 13,14 Computer 15,17 Printer 16,18 Facsimile 19 Copier 20,21 Computer Ethernet cable 22,24 Printer Ethernet cable 23,25 Facsimile Ethernet cable 26 Copier Ethernet cable 27 Core Ethernet ·cable

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A method of reporting the status of a device on a network system, comprising: a status detection step of detecting the status of the equipment itself; a display step of displaying the status; and a replacement of a consumable item in the status. A state notification method comprising: a determination step for determining whether the consumable item is in accordance with the determination step; and a creation step for creating a document required for replacement of a consumable item based on the determination result of the determination step. 2. The status notification method according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitting step of transmitting the document to the public line, and transmitting the document created by the creating step to a predetermined destination on the public line. 3. The status notification method according to claim 1, wherein the status is a paper out status of a printer. 4. The status notification method according to claim 1, wherein the status is a status that the copying machine is out of toner. 5. A network system for connecting a plurality of devices, wherein a status detection means for detecting the status of the equipment itself, a display means for displaying the status, and a replacement of consumables for the status. A network system, comprising: a determining unit that determines whether there is an item; and a creating unit that creates a document required to replace a consumable item based on a result of the determination by the determining unit. 6. The network system according to claim 5, further comprising transmitting means for transmitting to the public line, and transmitting the document created by the creating means to a predetermined destination on the public line. 7. The network system according to claim 5, wherein the state is a printer out of paper state. 8. The network system according to claim 5, wherein the status is a toner exhaustion status of the copying machine. 9. A network system for connecting a plurality of devices, the printer having a status detection means for detecting the status of the equipment itself, a display means for displaying the status, and the status being consumable. A network system comprising: a computer having a determination unit that determines whether or not replacement is required, and a creation unit that creates a document required to replace a consumable item based on a determination result by the determination unit. 10. A network system for connecting a plurality of devices, comprising: a copying machine having a state detection means for detecting the state of the device itself; and a determination for determining whether the state requires replacement of consumables. Means, a creating means for creating a document required for exchanging consumables based on the result of the judgment by the judging means, and a sending means for sending the document created by the creating means to a predetermined destination on a public line. A facsimile having
A network system comprising: 11. The printer and computer are
10. The network system according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of units are connected to the network. 12. The network system according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of copying machines and a plurality of facsimiles are connected to the network. 13. A status notification device for notifying an operator of the status of a device, the status detecting means for detecting the status, the display means for displaying the status, and the status requiring replacement of a consumable item. A status notification device comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not there is an item; and a creation unit that creates a document required for replacement of a consumable item based on a determination result by the determination unit. 14. The state according to claim 13, further comprising a transmitting means for connecting to a public line and transmitting the document, and transmitting the document created by the creating means to a predetermined destination on the public line. Notification device. 15. The status notification device according to claim 13, wherein the device is a printer, and the status is a paper out status of the printer. 16. The status notification device according to claim 13, wherein the device is a copying machine, and the status is a toner exhaustion status of the copying machine.